Monica Lewinsky said Beyoncé should pull the racy lyrics to her song “Partition,” in which the singer references Lewinsky’s affair with former President Bill Clinton
Monica Lewinsky is taking issue with one of Beyoncé’s hit songs.
On Monday, the advocate, speaker and producer replied to a headline from Variety about Beyoncé pulling a word that was deemed “ableist” from the song “Heated” on her latest album, Renaissance.
In response, Lewinsky, 49, tweeted, “uhmm, while we’re at it… #Partition,” referencing Beyoncé’s 2013 single which contains the lyric “he Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown” — a nod to Lewinsky’s high-profile affair with former President Bill Clinton.
uhmm, while we’re at it… #Partition
Beyoncé to Remove Renaissance Lyric After Outrage: Ableist, Offensive – Variety https://t.co/DzN80FdzPB
— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) August 1, 2022
When fans called her out for appearing to single out Beyoncé, 40, Lewinsky replied, “When articles about the 125+ other artists changing lyrics to a song cross my TL, I promise I’ll do the same.”
She also clarified why she labels herself a “rap song muse” in her Twitter bio, telling one fan, “because learning to laugh about things which hurt or humiliated me is how I survived.”
hi ya. it’s actually not the 1st time i’ve said anything— maybe just 1st time you + the other folks have heard it. usually i reference this poking fun at myself (eg rap muse or see tedtalk below)… beyoncé’s use was most disappointing cuz i was a fan. https://t.co/7XyRM323PY
— Monica Lewinsky (she/her) (@MonicaLewinsky) August 2, 2022
Explaining the label to another fan, Lewinsky said in part, “I was a Beyoncé fan ’til ‘Partition,'” telling another Twitter user that of all the times her scandal has been publicly referenced, “Beyoncé’s use was most disappointing cuz I was a fan.”
She also noted that this isn’t the first time she’s made mention of the name-drop, tweeting, “Newsflash: always consider YOUR first time hearing something doesn’t necessarily mean it is the first time it’s been said. (this has been a good reminder for me, too.)”
Back in 2014, Lewinsky penned a Vanity Fair op-ed on being the subject of conversation and humiliation. She wrote in part, “Miley Cyrus references me in her twerking stage act, Eminem raps about me, and Beyoncé’s latest hit gives me a shout-out. Thanks, Beyoncé, but if we’re verbing, I think you meant ‘Bill Clinton’d all on my gown,’ not ‘Monica Lewinsky’d.’ ”
Released in 2013, Partition was co-written and co-produced by Justin Timberlake. Producers Timbaland and The Dream are also on the list of well-known artists and producers credited. The song is featured on Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth studio album.
A rep for Beyoncé did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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